Westlock’s Jaden Senkoe may soon suit up for the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings after he was picked in last week’s WHL Bantam draft.
On Thursday, May 5, the 15-year-old centreman, currently playing at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, B.C. was selected by the hometown Oil Kings 137th overall in the draft’s seventh round.
Senkoe, who just returned from playing in the Alberta Cup in Canmore April 28 to May 1 before a number of scouts was elated to learn of his selection.
“It was really good. I was really glad to see my name on the list,” Senkoe said.
It was just after noon when Senkoe said he saw his name appear on the draft list while checking his phone at school.
“It’s a lot of relief. I had to work my bum off to get where I am,” he said. “It’s really relieving that it paid off in the end.”
Oil Kings director of scouting Jamie Novakoski said he sees potential in the 5’11”, 162-pound Senkoe, who scored eight goals and added six assists in 25 games last season.
“He is a lanky player who can contribute up front, but more of a complete honest two-way game,” Novakoski said.
Senkoe’s father, Eldon, couldn’t be prouder.
“We were pretty excited, it was pretty cool,” Eldon said.
“It’s sort of a good ego-boost and it helps your confidence to get drafted, but if you don’t get drafted it’s not the end of the world. It makes you feel a little better because you get a little recognition for all the hard work.”
Eldon said a few teams had expressed interested in Jaden, prior to the draft.
“There were a few other teams that had their eye on him, that had contacted us, but the Oil Kings we hadn’t talked to,” he said.
“It was a pretty awesome surprise.”
For now, Senkoe will remain in Penticton and continue remain at the Okanagan Hockey Academy.
Next month he’ll attend camp for the Oil Kings, but is unlikely to suit up for the team before the 2017-18 season.
The draft was the end of an eventful week for Senkoe who had just returned home from the Alberta Cup where he suited up for Team Alberta Northwest and scored two goals in five games.
“It went really good. I thought I played really well,” Senkoe said of the tournament.
Team Northwest went 0-3 in round-robin play and notched their only tournament win in their first playoff tilt, a 4-2 win over team Central, before a 9-7 loss to Edmonton Blue for the six-place finish.
While the team had trouble winning games, Senkoe said they were more than competitive over the course of the event.
“It was some tough competition. Our team was in every game, pretty much. I the last couple minutes we’d take a penalty or they’d just score,” he said.
The teen said the tournament was a good challenge and hopes to carry forward some lessons he learned going forward. He added it was an honour to represent Westlock.
“When everybody said where they were from, cities like St. Albert or Spruce Grove and then I’d say Westlock and they really wouldn’t know, which was cool,” he said.
